THE 


/V\AkG/\kET  JOlJlSA 


HOME 


1904 


THE  YOUNG  WOMEN'S 

CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION 

OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


THE 

MARGARET  LOUISA  HOME 

OF  THE 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association 

OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 


14  £*f  16  East  Sixteenth  Street 


6  0* 


MARGARET  LOUISA  HOME 
COMMITTEE 


Mrs.  ELLIOTT  F.  SH 
Mrs.  R.  A.  DORMAN,  Chairman 
Mrs.  MALCOLM  GRAHAM 
Mrs.  E.  F.  HATFIELD 
Mrs.  ROBERT  JAFFRAY,  Jr. 
Mrs.  W.  C.  LYFORD 
Mrs.  R.  McNAMEE 


\RD,  Honorary  Chairman 
Mrs.  W.  H.  HUMPHREY,  Secretary 
Mrs.  WM.  JAY  SCHIEFFELIN 
Mrs.  JAS.  K.  SHAW 
Mrs.  RUSSELL  STEBBINS 
Miss  M.  A.  ST1MSON 
Mrs.  HENRY  TALMADGE 


Report. 


THIRTEEN  YEARS  have  afforded  abundant 
proof  of  the  value  of  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home 
and  have  won  for  it  an  important  place  in  the 
hearts  of  women  in  every  part  of  the  world. 
From  North  to  South,  from  East  to  West,  from  over  the 
Atlantic  and  beyond  the  Pacific,  from  Iceland  to  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  the  Home  is  known  and  loved  by  thou- 
sands who  have  enjoyed  its  comforts.  Occupying  a 
vantage  ground  of  peculiar  opportunity,  on  the  threshold 
of  the  new  world,  it  has  extended  hospitality  to  strangers 
of  every  nationality  and  most  varied  occupations,  while 
thousands,  from  all  parts  of  the  home  land,  have  sought 
its  protection.  Many  an  inexperienced  and  lonely  woman 
who  has  found  her  way  to  the  city  to  make  use  of  its  ad- 
vantages for  study  and  self-support,  ignorant  of  its 
temptations  and  dangers,  learns  much  that  safeguards  her 
for  the  future,  while  she  spends  a  few  days  or  weeks  at 
the  Home.  Above  all,  she  goes  out  conscious  that  there 
is  a  refuge  behind  her  if  unforeseen  emergencies  arise. 
Although  practically  a  hotel,  meeting  the  varied  require- 
ments of  distinctly  transient  guests,  the  Margaret  Louisa 
Home  combines,  in  an  unusual  degree  the  comfort  and 
protection  of  a  home  with  the  freedom  of  a  hotel.  While 
ready  to  extend  sympathy  or  counsel  to  any  who  may 


4 


desire  it,  the  needless  intrusion  of  either  is  carefully 
avoided.  The  atmosphere  of  the  Home  has,  from  the  out- 
set, been  one  of  its  notable  features.  The  utmost  freedom, 
consistent  with  a  due  regard  for  individual  rights,  has 
prevailed  and  the  independence  of  each  guest  has  been 
respected  wherever  it  did  not  interfere  with  the  general 
welfare.  The  home  feeling  is  increased  by  the  family 
prayers  held  daily  in  the  parlor,  and  by  the  observance 
of  the  various  holiday  festivals.  While  all  the  national 
holidays  are  appropriate!}'  celebrated,  Thanksgiving  and 
Christmas  are  the  special  occasions  made  memorable  by 
unusual  good  cheer  in  both  home  and  restaurant.  As 
many  as  three  hundred  and  seventy  women  have  dined 
in  the  restaurant  on  Christmas  Day;  a  pathetic  fact  which 
marks  either  the  absence  of  home  or  social  ties,  which 
would  naturally  claim  them  at  such  a  time,  or  the  inexor- 
able necessities  of  business  which  make  it  impossible  for 
them  to  join  the  home  circle.  Remembering  this,  it  is 
the  pleasant  privilege  of  every  one  connected  with  the 
Home  to  make  the  day  a  happy  one  for  every  guest,  and 
in  His  Name  who  came  on  Christmas  Day,  to  welcome 
all  who  claim  our  hospitality  at  that  season.  At  Easter 
the  Home  shares  in  the  general  rejoicing  of  the  annual 
Bible  Class  celebration,  and  the  atmosphere  is  fragrant 
with  flowers  that  repeat  in  silent  parable  the  beautiful 
lesson  of  the  Resurrection. 


5 


The  religious  influences  though  quiet  and  unobtrusive 
are  distinctly  recognized.  In  addition  to  the  daily  prayer 
service,  a  short  Bible  Class  is  held  on  Sunday  for  those 
whom  we  employ,  and  every  week  the  guests  are  invited 
both  by  announcement  in  the  parlors  and  by  cards  placed 
in  the  rooms,  to  the  weekly  Bible  Class  of  the  Association 
and  to  the  Tuesday  evening  Devotional  Meeting.  Access 
to  the  Association  building  on  Fifteenth  Street,  is  one  of 
the  pleasant  features  of  the  Home,  making  easily  avail- 
able the  privileges  of  the  Chapel,  Library,  Class  Rooms 
and  Employment  Bureau. 

For  several  years  a  room  has  been  reserved  for  Travel- 
lers' Aid  guests  of  the  Association,  thus  obviating  the 
difficulty  of  securing  a  room  on  the  short  notice  usually 
given  in  such  cases. 

In  every  department,  the  work  of  the  Home  has  reached 
the  utmost  limit  of  its  capacity.  The  growth  in  numbers, 
as  shown  by  the  statistical  record  on  page  twenty-eight, 
has  been  phenomenal  during  the  thirteen  years  past;  but 
the  zenith  is  reached,  except  in  the  number  of  disap- 
pointed applicants.  These  increase  with  each  succeed- 
ing year,  a  fact  which  speaks  volumes,  both  for  the 
successful  administration  of  the  Home  and  the  need 
which  exists  for  more  accommodation  for  the  business 
women  who  flock  in  such  large  numbers  to  our  city. 
Many  of  these  are  foreigners  and  peculiarly  exposed  to 


6 


the  dangers  which  attend  disappointed  hopes  and  ex- 
hausted resources  ;  cherished  dreams  must  be  put  aside, 
and  if  the  process  of  disillusion  is  not  less  painful,  it  is 
certainly  more  safe,  amid  the  comfortable  surroundings 
and  Christian  atmosphere  of  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  guests  are  teachers.  When 
thrown  out  of  employment,  they  naturally  come  to 
New  York  to  seek  new  engagements  or  to  improve 
their  enforced  idleness  by  special  studies  in  music,  art, 
literature  or  languages.  The  short  vacations  at  Thanks- 
giving, Christmas  and  Easter,  bring  many  whose  homes 
could  only  be  reached  by  long  and  expensive  journeys, 
impossible  to  limited  time  and  purse.  Others  whose 
schools  are  remote  from  the  great  centres  of  culture, 
need  the  stimulus  of  art  galleries,  libraries  and  musical 
opportunities.  To  them  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home  has 
made  possible  an  uplift  of  great  value  in  their  work. 
Not  a  few  of  these  are  missionary  teachers  from  Southern 
schools,  who  come  at  long  intervals  for  a  part  of  their 
summer  vacation,  and  find  special  refreshment  in  contact 
with  the  vital  life  of  a  great  city,  even  though  it  must  be 
seen  under  all  the  disadvantages  of  an  August  sun. 

Among  our  guests  are  many  young  physicians  coming 
back  to  New  York  after  a  few  years'  practice,  for  special 
clinical  and  post-graduate  courses.  None  have  expressed 
a  deeper  appreciation  of  the  real  comforts  of  the  Home 


7 


and  none  understand  so  fully  the  value  of  its  sanitary 
appliances,  its  wholesome  meals  and  the  quiet  restfulness 
of  all  its  arrangements. 

Trained  nurses  also  think  there  is  no  place  where  they 
can  rest  so  well. 

Milliners  and  dressmakers  coining  to  New  York  for  the 
pattern  making  of  the  Spring  and  Fall  openings,  have 
been  quick  to  discover  its  advantages.  While  a  few  of 
the  more  prosperous  might  easily  go  to  hotels,  many 
owe  the  rising  prosperity  of  a  country  business  to  the  op- 
portunity made  possible  through  the  Home,  of  an  annual 
visit  to  this  great  centre  of  trade. 

Since  the  opening,  Jan.  20th,  1891,  over  35,000  differ- 
ent women  have  been  admitted.  The  re-admission  of 
those  who  have  returned  more  or  less  frequently  since 
their  first  visit,  swells  the  total  number  of  admissions  to 
over  72,000.  Of  these  more  than  one-third,  over  24,000, 
are  Teachers.  The  next  largest  number  in  the  classifica- 
tion of  occupations  is  represented  by  nearly  13,000  Dress- 
makers and  Milliners. 

More  than  6,000  Clerks,  Bookkeepers  and  Stenograph- 
ers, 3,500  Matrons  and  Housekeepers,  about  the  same 
number  of  Trained  Nurses,  and  almost  3,000  Artists  have 
been  admitted. 

The  literary  profession  is  represented  by  1,000  Authors, 
Editors  and  Journalists  ;  700  Physicians  and  an  equal 
number  of  Missionaries  have  been  among  our  guests.  A 


s 


scattering  of  Ministers,  Lawyers,  Dentists,  Druggists, 
Musicians  and  Dramatic  Artists,  indicates  the  wide  range 
of  professional  activities  among  the  women  who  have 
come  to  the  Home. 

Among  business  women  we  find  an  equal  variety  ; 
Farmers,  Fruit  Growers,  Florists  and  Poultry  Raisers 
show  the  agricultural  interests  pursued.  Manufacture 
has  representatives  of  nearly  every  known  trade. 
Science  and  Art,  in  addition  to  the  professions  quoted 
above,  are  represented  by  Architects,  Designers,  En- 
gravers, Electricians,  Microscopists,  Photographers, 
Sculptors  and  Wood  Carvers. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  house,  our  accommodations 
have  been  somewhat  increased  by  putting  double  beds 
into  some  of  the  larger  rooms.  There  are  nowf  one 
hundred  beds  in  the  house.  As  several  of  these  must  be 
reserved  for  officers  and  servants,  the  number  of  guests 
can  rarely  exceed  eighty-five;  occasionally,  by  the  use  of 
cots  and  the  successful  placing  of  relatives  and  friends 
who  can  share  the  double  beds,  this  number  is  increased 
a  little.  It  speaks  well  for  the  kindly  spirit  of  our 
guests,  that  they  are  so  often  willing  to  be  overcrowTded 
in  order  that  others  may  be  accommodated.  The  aver- 
age number  in  the  house,  per  night,  during  the  thirteen 
years,  covers  the  occupancy  of  every  bed  for  every  night. 
The  largest  number  of  guests  for  any  one  night  during  the 


MARGARET  I^OUISA  HOME. 


9 


past  37ear,  was  134  ;  the  smallest,  on  a  very  hot 
Sunday  in  July,  when  every  one  was  out  of  town  who 
could  be,  was  93.  Even  the  largest  of  these  figures 
bears  an  insignificant  proportion  to  the  overwhelming 
number  of  applicants  refused.  No  actual  records  have 
been  kept,  but  estimates  based  on  the  known  facts,  justify 
the  statement  that  at  least  three  times  the  number  ad- 
mitted have  been  refused.  In  busiest  seasons,  when  the 
average  admissions  reach  ten  or  even  twenty  per  day, 
the  refusals  often  exceed  one  hundred,  either  by  letter 
or  in  person.  Most  of  these  are  referred  to  the  Board 
Directory  of  the  Association,  or  when  that  is  closed, 
directed  to  nearby  hotels.  This  widespread  popularity 
has  made  a  rapid  increase  in  the  correspondence  which 
is  now  fully  ten  times  as  large  as  in  earlier  years. 
The  same  causes  operate  to  tax  to  the  utmost,  all  our 
resources  in  the  care  of  baggage,  forwarding  of  mail  and 
giving  of  information  to  multitudes  whose  names  have 
never  been  entered  upon  our  register. 

The  crowded  condition  at  most  seasons  of  the  year, 
has  permitted  but  few  admissions  of  women  who  were 
not  self-supporting,  but  preferred  the  Home  to  a  hotel, 
even  at  the  double  rates  charged  to  them.  Occasional 
vacancies  and  the  courtesy  of  business  women,  willing  to 
share  their  rooms  with  friends,  have  allowed  an  average  of 
one  such  guest  per  day  during  these  thirteen  years.  Many 


IO 


of  these  have  been  officers  of  Associations  doing  similar 
work  in  other  parts  of  the  land;  and  the  stimulus  thus 
afforded  and  the  interest  awakened  in  many,  hitherto 
ignorant  of  this  phase  of  woman's  work  for  woman,  are 
among  the  best  results  of  the  thirteen  years'  labor. 

Statistics,  no  matter  how  interesting,  do  not  represent 
the  personal  incidents,  the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  heart 
experiences,  of  the  women  who  have  come  in  and  gone 
out  since  our  doors  were  opened  thirteen  years  ago;  these 
are  not  for  the  public  ear,  but  God  knows,  and  many  grate- 
ful women  know,  what  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home 
means  in  their  lives.  Those  most  familiar  with  the  life 
of  the  Home,  know  best  the  wide  reach  of  interests 
represented  by  its  guests,  and  how  closely  it  touches  the 
throbbing  life  of  the  world  at  large.  It  is  a  center  which 
feels  the  thrill  of  much  that  is  great  in  achievement, 
heroic  in  endurance,  brave  in  undertaking,  noble  in 
sacrifice,  joyful  or  tragic  in  result. 

The  health  of  the  household  has  been  excellent.  Few 
cases  of  serious  illness  have  occurred  and  no  deaths.  Our 
thanks  are  due  to  the  physicians  who  have  so  cheerfully 
attended  guests  at  nominal  rates,  to  the  trained  nurses 
who  have  served  in  times  of  emergency,  often  without 
compensation,  and  to  the  hospitals  that  have  admitted 
such  cases  as  could  not  be  properly  cared  for  here. 

Grateful  appreciation  is  also  accorded  to  the  press,  both 


1 1 

local  and  general,  for  the  liberal  space  granted  to  friend- 
ly notices  of  our  work. 

The  laundry  has  been  an  important  item  in  the 
comfort  of  the  house  and  the  convenience  of  guests  and 
enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  for  the  excellent  work  done 
in  it.  During  the  first  years  a  rate  of  50  cents  per  dozen 
was  charged,  but  when  it  was  found  that  the  dozens 
were  made  up  almost  entirely  of  large  pieces,  that  experi- 
ment was  abandoned  and  a  regular  though  moderate  rate 
of  piece  prices  adopted  in  this  department.  The  work  of 
the  department  has  increased  from  198,653  pieces  laun- 
dered in  1 891  to  an  average  of  more  than  600,000  pieces 
for  the  past  five  years  reaching  a  total  of  844,  730  in  1903. 

Only  once  during  these  thirteen  years  has  the  Home 
closed  its  doors;  for  one  month  in  the  summer  of  1898, 
while  the  building  was  undergoing  a  thorough  renovat- 
ing and  some  important  improvements  were  being  made. 

Even  then,  the  restaurant  was  kept  open  for  a  part  of 
the  month,  so  that  those  who  depended  upon  it  might  not 
be  deprived  of  its  advantages  for  a  single  unnecessary  day. 

Few  who  are  not  brought  into  close  contact  with  the 
work,  can  realize  what  an  important  part  the  restaurant 
plays.  The  lodger  who  remains  even  for  the  full  limit 
of  time  allowed,  must  go  elsewhere  at  the  end  of  a  month; 
but  she  may  still  return,  day  after  day  for  the  wholesome 
and  inexpensive  meals.    The  restaurant  has  thus  made 


12 


it  possible  for  numbers  of  women  to  establish  cosy  homes 
in  rooms  or  small  apartments,  without  the  necessity  for 
individual  kitchens  and  dining  rooms. 

The  restaurant  was  opened  to  the  public  in  February, 
1 89 1,  and  during  that  }^ear  171,111  meals  were  supplied. 

Since  that  time  the  numbers  have  increased  until  dur- 
ing the  year  1903,  422,858  meals  were  served.  Two 
years  ago  a  trifling  adjustment  of  tables  enlarged  the 
seating  capacity  of  the  room  from  100  to  107,  and  the 
opening  of  the  restaurant  fifteen  minutes  earlier  at  the 
noon  hour,  has  contributed  somewhat  toward  the  very 
large  figures  recorded  during  the  past  year. 

The  largest  attendance  is  always  at  luncheon,  when 
600  or  more  are  often  served  in  the  short  space  of  two 
hours.  The  largest  number  of  meals  served  in  one  year 
was  422,858;  in  one  month  39,742;  in  one  day  1,507;  at 
one  meal  759.  During  the  last  two  years,  the  average 
has  been  1,232  for  week  days,  and  717  for  Sundays  and 
holidays. 

But  one  change  in  the  price  of  meals  has  ever  been 
made.  The  price  of  dinners  was  increased  May  1st, 
1895,  from  30  to  35  cents. 

From  the  beginning  the  restaurant  has  been  crowded 
to  overflowing.  The  limited  time  allowed  for  a  business 
woman's  luncheon  and  the  limited  space  at  our  command, 
are  inexorable  conditions  difficult  to  harmonize.  So, 
also,  is  the  proportion  between  the  crowds  waiting  in  our 


13 


small  reception  room  and  the  107  seats  we  have  to  offer 
them.  The  opening  of  more  than  a  dozen  restaurants 
within  as  many  blocks  of  the  Home,  has  in  no  wise 
lessened  the  demand  upon  our  resources  of  space  and 
ventilation. 

The  aim  of  the  restaurant  is  to  provide  wholesome, 
well-cooked  meals  at  moderate  prices.  Care  is  taken  in 
the  purchase  of  supplies  to  secure  the  best  in  quality  and 
in  their  preparation  to  give  variety  and  nutrition.  While 
the  delicacies  of  the  season  cannot  be  offered  at  the  prices 
charged,  all  the  articles  of  staple  food  supply  find  their 
place  in  due  succession  upon  our  table.  Special  attention 
is  paid  to  the  preparation  of  simple,  home-made  desserts, 
and  fruit,  fresh  or  home  cooked,  is  available  for  every 
meal.  For  dinner  it  is  included  on  the  bill  of  fare  and 
for  breakfast  and  luncheon  at  a  small  extra  charge. 

For  those  who  do  not  wish,  or  cannot  afford  the  full 
table  d'hote  meal,  many  dishes  are  served  a  la  carte,  and 
meals  may  be  broken  as  desired  and  only  a  portion  of  the 
table  d'  hote  meal  ordered.  Fully  one  third  of  the  meals 
served,  are  thus  divided.  While  this  is  a  painful  index 
of  the  economies  necessary  among  even  the  more  pros- 
perous business  women,  it  also  affords  ample  proof  that 
the  restaurant  ministers  in  a  very  large  degree  to  the 
needs  of  women  who  can  afford  only  inexpensive  meals. 
This  cutting  of  meals  is  one  of  the  most  serious  prob- 
lems in  making  ends  meet;  frequent  rises  in  the  price  of 


provisions,  increase  this  difficulty,  which,  in  our  restau- 
rant, cannot  be  met  by  a  corresponding  increase  in  charge. 

During  the  time  when  coal  and  provisions  have  stood 
at  exceptionally  high  rates,  the  question  of  some  advance 
in  the  price  of  meals  was  frequently  considered  as  a  poss- 
ible necessity,  but  so  far  the  decision  has  been  in  favor  of 
maintaining  the  present  rates. 

It  is  matter  for  congratulation,  that,  notwithstanding 
all  these  difficulties,  the  records  show  that  for  the  past  four 
years  the  restaurant  has  fully  met  all  its  running  expenses. 

During  the  earlier  years  this  department  never  quite 
reached  the  point  of  self-support,  though  for  several  years 
previous  to  1900  the  loss  was  reduced  to  so  small  a  sum 
as  to  be  equalized  by  a  small  margin  of  profit  in  other  de- 
partments. 

L,ike  the  experiment  stations  established  for  the  prac- 
ical  solution  of  problems  in  agriculture,  science,  or  the 
arts  of  war,  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home  has  had  the 
pleasure  of  demonstrating  the  need  which  exists  for  such 
a  transient  home  for  women,  and  the  practical  lines  along 
which  it  could  be  successfully  operated. 

Alterations  and  improvements  have  been  generously 
supplied  to  perfect  the  equipment  and  enlarge  the  facilities 
for  making  the  best  possible  use  of  every  available  inch 
of  space  in  the  building.  The  liberal  outlay  has  done 
much  to  overcome  many  of  the  difficulties  of  earlier  years, 


15 


and  resulted  in  such  an  adjustment  of  income  and  outgo, 
that  for  more  than  eight  years  past,  that  is,  since  July  ist, 
1895,  tne  Home  has  met  all  its  running  expenses. 

The  high  standard  of  repair  thus  far  maintained,  has 
been  made  possible  only  by  the  generosity  of  the  founder, 
who,  during  these  thirteen  years,  has  paid  all  bills  for  re- 
pairs and  replenishing.  To  her  liberality  is  due  the  fact 
that  the  Home  has  never  cost  the  Association  a  dollar  of 
expense,  even  for  the  deficits  in  running  expenses  which 
occurred  during  the  first  experimental  years.  To-day, 
the  Margaret  Louisa  Home  stands  as  the  fitting  monu- 
ment of  a  great  idea,  nobly  conceived,  generously  plan- 
ned, and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  crowned  with  unusual 
success.  It  is  no  longer  an  experiment,  but  an  assured 
factor  in  the  many  sided  work  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association.  Planted  in  love  and  faith,  nur- 
tured in  watchfulness  and  prayer,  maintained  in  liberal 
generosity,  the  Home  has  realized  in  ever-increasing 
degree  the  beneficent  purpose  of  its  founder,  and  proved 
an  incentive  to  the  establishment  of  other  enterprises  of 
similar  aim. 

Far  beyond  all  that  is  represented  by  the  material 
prosperity  recorded,  there  lies  a  quiet  accomplishment 
for  good  that  cannot  be  expressed  in  figures  or  in  words, 
but  must  gladden  the  hearts  of  all  who  share  the  privilege 
of  administering  the  affairs  of  the  Margaret  Louisa  Home. 


Historical.— Descriptive. 


FOR  many  years  the  Board  Directory  of  the  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association  has  done  im- 
portant work  as  a  bureau  of  information  for 
women  seeking  board  in  hotels,  boarding- 
houses  or  homes.  By  careful  investigation  of  the 
houses  offering  such  accommodation,  they  were  able  to 
recommend  safe  places  to  women  coming  as  strangers  to 
this  great  metropolis. 

Many  difficulties  have  beset  this  work,  and  especially 
where  the  stay  was  to  be  short.  Those  who  keep  board- 
ing-houses are  generally  unwilling  to  receive  transient 
guests,  and  hotels  are  far  too  expensive  for  the  means 
of  the  average  self-supporting  woman.  Out  of  this  need 
grew  the  desire,  on  the  part  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association,  for  a  home  of  its  own,  whick 
should  offer  to  self-supporting  women  the  accommoda- 
tion the)7  so  sorely  needed. 

Watered  by  earnest  prayers,  and  cherished  as  a  far-off 
hope,  the  dream  of  the  distant  future,  this  desire  lay  in 
the  hearts  of  the  managers,  until  Mrs.  Elliott  F.  Shepard, 
one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Association,  con- 
ceived the  generous  design  of  supplying  this  long-felt 


r7 

want,  and  offered  to  build  a  lodging-house  for  women,  if 
the  Association  would  assume  its  oversight  and  manage- 
ment. This  offer  was  gladly  accepted,  and  on  January 
8th,  1 89 1,  the  deeds  of  the  property  were  formally  trans- 
ferred. Questions  are  often  asked  as  to  the  cost  of  the 
building,  but  it  is  part  of  the  exceeding  beauty  of  the 
gift  that  it  comes  unpriced,  its  intrinsic  value  being 
largely  enhanced  by  a  bestowal  of  personal  and  loving 
service  in  its  erection,  which  must  forever  make  it  an 
inspiration  to  all  who  share  its  benefits.  Few  women 
would  have  had  "  the  heart  to  conceive,  the  understand- 
ing to  direct,  and  the  hand  to  execute"  such  an  under- 
taking, and  by  the  desire  of  many  friends  the  Home 
bears  the  name  of  its  founder. 

To-day  the  Margaret  1/misa  Home  stands  a  fair 
reality;  so  beautiful  that  it  more  than  fulfills  the  highest 
hopes,  so  blessed  in  its  usefulness  that  it  seems  a  direct 
answer  to  believing  prayer.  It  has  been  aptly  called  "at 
once  a  sermon  and  a  poem  in  stone. ' ' 

The  location  of  the  Home,  at  Nos.  14  and  16  East 
Sixteenth  Street,  in  the  very  heart  of  business,  having 
direct  communication  with  the  main  building  of  the 
Association  on  Fifteenth  Street,  possesses  every  possible 
advantage.  An  open  court  in  the  rear,  with  its  green 
grass  and  flowers,  is  a  perpetual  delight,  securing  abun- 


i8 

dant  light  and  ventilation,  and  preserving  forever  to  the 
Fifteenth  Street  building  the  same  great  privileges. 

The  lot  is  50  feet  front  and  190  feet  deep.  The  build- 
ing is  a  handsome  six  story  structure,  the  front  of  brown 
stone,  in  the  Romanesque  style  of  architecture. 

Conspicuous  features  in  the  construction  of  the  house 
are  the  light  and  air,  admitted  to  every  part  of  it.  No 
bedroom  is  dark,  each  having  direct  communication  with 
the  outside  air  through  a  large  window.  Indeed,  one 
could  scarcely  believe  in  the  possibility  of  so  much  light 
and  sunshine  in  the  heart  of  a  great  city. 

The  entire  building  is  strictly  fire-proof.  The  walls, 
floors,  and  partitions  are  filled  with  fire-proof  brick  and 
cement,  which  have  the  additional  advantage  of  deaden- 
ing sound  and  making  the  house  remarkably  quiet,  even 
when  every  room  is  occupied.  The  stairways  are  of 
stone  with  iron  balusters.  In  the  restaurant  and  lower 
halls  the  floors  are  of  beautiful  marble  mosaic,  and  the 
wainscoting  in  tiles  of  soft,  rich  coloring.  The  same 
tiling  extends  along  the  stairway  to  the  second  floor. 
All  the  wood- work  is  of  hard-finished  natural  wood. 
The  walls  and  ceilings  are  painted  in  warm,  soft  colors, 
which  add  greatly  to  the  charm  of  the  house.  In  the 
parlors,  offices  and  restaurant  are  tiled  fireplaces  with 
handsome  andirons,  and  in  the  halls  and  restaurant  the 
rich  tints  of  stained  glass  increase  the  beauty  of  the 


19 


finish.  In  the  basement  are  the  kitchen,  pantries,  store- 
rooms, and  a  sitting-room  for  servants  employed  in  the 
house.  On  the  ground  floor  are  spacious  parlors,  offices, 
and  the  large  restaurant,  which  has  a  separate  entrance 
for  the  public,  at  16  East  Sixteenth  Street.  A  fine  corridor 
connects  this  floor  with  the  Fifteenth  Street  building,  and 
with  the  chapel  of  the  Association.  Four  floors  are 
devoted  entirely  to  bedrooms,  while  on  the  top  floor,  in 
addition  to  bedrooms  are  the  linen-room  and  cedar 
closets  and  a  laundry,  fitted  with  all  the  modern 
machinery.  The  roof  has  a  pavement  of  fire-proof  brick, 
is  furnished  with  chairs  and  settees,  and  offers  a  most 
attractive  resting-place  for  Summer  evenings.  The 
parlors  are  tastefully  furnished.  Choice  engravings,  a 
piano,  book-cases,  whose  well-filled  shelves  are  at  all 
times  open  to  the  guests,  magazines,  daily  and  weekly 
papers,  with  abundance  of  low  reading  lamps,  give  a 
peculiar  air  of  home-like  comfort  to  these  rooms.  Most 
of  the  bedrooms  are  single  rooms,  not  large,  but  large 
enough  to  contain  a  comfortable  bed,  wash-stand,  bureau, 
table  and  two  chairs,  one  of  which  is  a  rocker.  Each 
room  has  an  ample  closet  or  wardrobe  and  a  set  of  book- 
shelves. The  bedsteads  and  wash-stands  are  of  iron, 
enameled  white,  with  brass  mountings;  the  furniture  of 
oak,  of  simplest  design,  but  most  excellent  quality.  The 
carpets  are  of  the  best  Brussels,  made  in  rug-shape,  so 


20 


that  every  advantage  of  cleanliness  is  secured.  The 
beds  and  bedding  are  of  the  nicest  quality,  and  in  each 
room,  muslin  sash  curtains,  linen  toilet  covers,  a  pretty 
candlestick,  an  Oxford  Bible,  and  a  dainty  satin  banner 
with  a  pleasant  greeting  to  those  who  may  occupy  the 
room,  add  the  touches  of  cosy  homelikeness  so  rarely 
seen  in  a  hotel  or  boarding-house. 

The  house  contains  seventy -three  bedrooms ;  thirty - 
seven  are  single  rooms,  twenty-five  have  two  beds,  and 
eleven  are  single  rooms  with  double  beds  which  can  be 
occupied  by  two  persons,  making  one  hundred  beds  in  all. 
Some  of  these  are  occupied  by  employees,  leaving  accom- 
modation for  eighty-five  guests.  Every  room  is  heated 
by  steam,  lighted  both  by  gas  and  electricity,  and  is 
provided  with  a  ventilator  connecting  with  a  shaft  which 
supplies  fresh  air  directly  from  the  roof.  A  transom 
over  each  door  affords  additional  ventilation  from  the 
halls. 

The  bath-rooms,  which  are  free  to  guests,  are  un- 
usually fine,  having  floors  of  white  tile  and  facings  of 
marble.  All  plumbing  is  open,  thoroughly  ventilated 
and  of  the  latest  and  most  sanitar)^  kind.  The  halls  are 
carpeted,  adding  greatly  to  the  quiet  of  the  house, 
supplied  with  water-coolers,  and  furnished  with  chairs, 
tables  and  handsome  clocks.  A  commodious  elevator  is 
in  constant  use,  and  every  effort  is  made  to  secure  to  the 


HAI,IY— SECOND  FlyUOR. 


2  I 


guests  the  quiet  comfort  of  a  well  regulated  home,  com- 
bined with  the  independence  and  freedom  of  a  hotel.  A 
night-clerk  is  on  dut}'  during  the  entire  night,  giving  a 
sense  of  security  in  case  of  sudden  illness  and  providing 
for  the  admission  of  belated  travelers. 


Admissions.— Regulations 


THE  Margaret  Louisa  Home  is  for  the  temporary 
accommodation  of  Protestant,  self-supporting 
women.  Invalids  requiring  care  and  children 
under  fifteen  cannot  be  admitted.  The  limit 
of  time  for  each  guest  is  four  weeks,  after  which  re- 
admissions  are  made  for  a  few  days  only,  and  no  guest  is 
entitled  to  more  than  thirty-five  days  in  any  current  year. 
Applicants  for  admission  are  required  to  give  name  and 
address  in  full,  occupation,  church  denomination,  the 
name  and  address  of  a  relative  or  friend  who  could  be 
communicated  with  in  case  of  illness  or  other  emergency, 
and  the  name  and  address  of  a  reliable  person,  not  a  re- 
lative, as  reference. 

Rooms  can  be  reserved  in  advance,  but  only  when 
exact  date  of  arrival  is  given  and  upon  payment  of  a 
deposit  covering  the  rent  for  one  night.  This  deposit 
will  be  forfeited  if  the  rooms  are  not  claimed  as  specified. 
Such  applications  must  be  made  sufficiently  in  advance 
to  allow  time  for  a  reply. 

Rooms  cannot  be  promised  unless  such  particulars 
are  given  as  will  show  that  the  applicant  is  eligible  for 


23 


admission.  When  the  applicant  has  not  previously  been 
a  guest  of  the  Home,  sufficient  time  must  be  allowed  for 
the  usual  application  blank  to  be  sent  and  returned. 

Advance  deposits  are  refunded  or  credited  for  later 
dates  if  notice  of  change  of  plans  is  received  one  da}7  in 
advance  of  the  date  specified. 

In  view  of  the  large  numbers  applying  for  rooms  at 
the  Margaret  Louisa  Home  during  the  holiday  seasons, 
Thanksgiving,  Christmas  and  Easter,  deposits  made  to 
secure  rooms  for  these  dates  will  not  be  refunded  unless 
notice  of  change  of  plans  is  given  at  least  ten  days  in 
advance. 

When  there  are  vacancies,  women  who  are  not  self- 
supporting,  but  prefer  the  Home  to  a  hotel,  are  admitted 
for  short  periods  not  exceeding  one  week.  These  guests 
are  required  to  pay  for  the  rooms  double  the  rates 
charged  to  self-supporting  women,  for  whom  the  Heme 
is  intended,  and  to  whom  the  preference  is  always  given. 
As  the  Home  is  usually  crowded,  opportunities  for  these 
exceptions  rarely  occur,  and  cannot  be  promised  in 
advance. 

Guests  are  not  expected  to  arrive  or  depart  on  Sunday, 
except  in  cases  of  emergency.  In  such  emergencies  both 
Saturday  and  Sunday  nights  must  be  paid  for. 

The  price  of  single  rooms  is  50  cents  per  day.  Rooms 
with  two  beds,  80  cents.    Rooms  with  one  double  bed, 


24 


75  cents  for  two  persons.  60  cents  if  occupied  by  one 
person.  Rooms  with  one  double  and  one  single  bed, 
occupied  by  three  persons,  $1.15,  by  two  persons,  $1.00 
per  day.  The  rent  of  rooms  is  always  payable  in 
advance.  Guests  intending  to  give  up  their  rooms  are 
requested  to  give  notice  in  the  Superintendent's  office  as 
early  in  the  day  as  possible.  Rooms  must  be  vacated  by 
1 2  noon  on  day  of  departure. 

As  all  payments  are  in  advance,  unless  notice  to  the 
contrary  has  been  given  in  the  office  before  noon  of  the 
day  paid  for,  it  will  be  assumed  that  the  room  is  to  be 
vacated  and  may  be  assigned  to  another  guest. 

The  house  is  closed  at  11  p.  m.;  those  liable  to  be 
detained  later  must  report  at  the  Superintendent's  office 
in  advance. 

Electric  lights  are  extinguished  at  11  p.  m.  ;  gas  burn- 
ed after  midnight  will  be  charged  extra. 

Guests  have  free  use  of  bath-rooms  from  6  A.  m.  to 
10.30  P.  M. 

The  elevator  runs  from  7  A.  if  to  11  p.  m.  daily. 

Family  prayers  are  held  daily  in  the  parlors  at  7.15 
p.  M. ;  Sundays  at  6.45  p.m.  All  are  cordially  invited  to 
be  present. 

The  entire  care  of  rooms  is  assumed  by  the  chamber- 
maids, but  guests  are  requested  to  air  their  rooms  daily, 
and  to  make  their  beds  on  Sunday  mornings. 


25 


Guests  are  earnestly  requested  to  give  no  fees  to  ser- 
vants and  to  ask  no  extra  service  of  them.  No  cooking 
or  washing  can  be  allowed  in  the  rooms.  A  charge  will 
be  made  for  damage  done  to  furniture  and  bedding,  and 
for  keys  lost. 

Occupants  of  rooms  are  desired  on  leaving  them,  to  lock 
the  doors  and  leave  keys  in  the  office  adjoining  the 
parlor.  Letters  and  packages  may  be  inquired  for  in  the 
same  office.  Valuables  may  be  left  in  a  safe  provided 
for  the  purpose.  The  Home  assumes  no  responsibility 
for  such  articles  left  in  rooms. 

It  is  suggested  that  guests  coming  to  the  Home  should, 
as  far  as  possible,  bring  only  hand  baggage  or  small 
trunks,  the  size  of  rooms  making  large  trunks  a  serious 
discomfort  to  all  concerned.  Small  trunks  are  allowed 
to  remain  in  the  rooms;  large  ones  must  be  unpacked  at 
once  and  sent  to  the  store-room,  where  they  are  accessible 
at  any  time  during  the  day;  orders  for  access  to  store- 
room may  be  obtained  in  the  parlor  office.  Guests 
bringing  more  than  one  trunk  will  be  charged  two  cents 
per  day  or  50  cents  per  month  for  each  additional  piece 
of  baggage.  The  same  rate  will  be  charged  for  baggage 
kept  on  storage  after  the  owner  has  left  the  Home. 
Baggage  cannot  be  stored  longer  than  six  months. 

An  expressman  calls  four  times  daily,  except  Sunday, 
to  receive  orders  for  the  delivery  of  arriving  and  depart- 


26 


ing  baggage.  Charge,  25  cents  for  each  piece.  All 
orders  for  trunks  to  be  taken  to  or  from  rooms,  and  for 
baggage  to  or  from  the  house,  should  be  left  in  the 
office  adjoining  the  parlor.  In  this  office,  which  is 
always  open,  a  District  Messenger  Call  and  Telephone 
Pay  Station  are  at  the  service  of  guests  at  the  usual  rates. 

Laundry  work  is  done  for  guests  at  moderate  rates. 
All  clothing  should  be  plainly  marked.  The  Home  as- 
sumes no  responsibility  for  articles  not  marked.  Laundry 
bags  are  collected  from  the  rooms  early  on  Monday  and 
Thursday  mornings  and  will  be  returned  on  Wednesdays 
and  Saturdays.  When  desired  earlier,  special  notice  must 
be  given.  Whenever  possible,  laundry  work  will  be 
done  on  other  than  regular  days,  but  only  on  special  ap- 
plication in  the  Superintendent's  office,  and  it  is  earnest- 
ly requested  that  guests  will,  as  far  as  possible,  send 
laundry  only  on  the  regular  days. 

The  restaurant  is  open  to  women  only.  On  account 
of  limited  space  children  cannot  be  admitted. 

Hours — Breakfast,  7  to  9  a.m.;  Luncheon,  11-45  A-  M- 
to  2  p.m.;  Dinner,  5.30  to  7.30  p.m. 

On  Sundays  the  Breakfast  hour  is  from  8  to  9  A.M.; 
Dinner,  1  to  2  p.m.;  Tea,  6  to  7  p.m. 

Prices  ;  Table  d'Hote  Meals. — Breakfast,  Luncheon  or 
Sunday  Tea,  20  cents.    Dinner,  35  cents. 

Meals  are  served  in  rooms  only  in  case  of  temporary 


27 


illness  when  an  extra  charge  of  20  cents  each  is  made. 
In  such  cases  notice  must  be  sent  to  the  Superintendent's 
office. 

All  business  is  transacted  in  the  Superintendent's 
office,  which  is  open  daily,  Sundays  excepted,  from 
7.30  a.m.  to  1  p.m.,  or  in  the  Parlor  office  when  this 
is  closed. 

Checks  and  money  orders  should  be  made  payable  to 
the  Margaret  Louisa  Home. 

On  account  of  the  charges  now  made  for  collecting  out 
of  town  checks,  guests  are  required  to  remit  deposits, 
whenever  possible,  by  Post-office  money  orders  made 
payable  to  The  Margaret  Louisa  Home.  If  checks  are 
sent,  ten  cents  should  be  added,  to  meet  cost  of  collection. 

All  communications  in  regard  to  the  Home  should  be 
addressed  to 

Miss  J.  P.  Cattell,  Superintendent, 
Margaret  Louisa  Home, 

14  Bast  Sixteenth  Street, 

New  York  City. 

January  1st,  1904. 


Statistical  Record 


1891 

1 

1892  1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

Pieces  Laundered.. 

2,631 

4,157 

4,144 

5,002 

5,773 

6,057 

25,459 

34,6n 

35,629 

35,874 

37,6oo 

37,498 

198,653 

404,403 

438,331 

449,72o 

1  r  j  1  i 

481,526 

561,296 

37,459 

66,829 

63,005 

62,953 

65,272 

64,304 

88,617 

138,465 

146,584 

146,806 

151,806 

155,397 

45,o35 

91,024 

98,190 

100,670 

94,H3 

88,477 

171,111 

296,318 

307,779 

310,429 

311,221 

308,178 

Statistical  Record 


1897 

1898* 

1899 

1900 

1 901 

1902 

1903 

Totals 

6,449 

6,141 

6,840 

7,260 

7,224 

7,354 

7,242 

76,274 

38,178 

35,68i 

39.944 

40,365 

40,235 

40,169 

4o,977 

4S2,220 

641,779 

635.531 

673,075 

659,845 

683,737 

741,703 

844.730 

7,41=5,^27 

63,422 

6i.977 

68,342 

70,021 

71,470  75,814 

82,608 

854,477 

161,363  |  156,143 

165,387 

166,992 

169,540  |  186,016 

212,170 

2,065, 2S6 

90,068 

91,861 

101,693 

98,484 

100,393  116,681 

128,080 

1,244,819 

3H,853 

309.981 

335,422 

335,497 

341,403  j  378,5H 

422,858 

4,164,582 

*  House  closed  one  month  for  repairs. 


Young  Women's  Christian  Association 

OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK 

7  EAST  FIFTEENTH  STREET 


OFFICERS,  1904 

President,        -        -        Mrs.  Clarence  E.  Beebe 

First  Vice-President^  Second  Vice-President, 

Miss  M.  A.  Stimson  Mrs.  Elliott  F.  Shepard 

Third  Vice-President,        -        -        Mrs.  R.  A.  Dorman 

Treasurer,  Assistant  Treasurer, 

Mrs.  G.  L.  Elliott  Mrs.  G.  F.  Butterworth 

Corresponding  Secretary,  Recording  Secretary, 

Miss  J.  F.  Bangs  Mrs.  Robert  Jaffray,  Jr. 

The  object  of  this  Association  is  lt  to  promote  the  temporal,  social,  mental,  moral 
and  religious  ivelfare  of  young  tuomen,  particularly  of  those  dependent  upon  their 
oivn  exertions  for  support." 

Annual  Dues  for  Hembership. — Active,  not  less  than  $1.00;  Associate,  $1.00; 
Sustaining,  not  less  than  $5.00;  L,ife  Membership,  $50.00;  Honorary.  $100.00. 

Bible  Class. — Bible  Class  meets  in  the  Hall  of  the  Association  every  Sunday  from 
October  1st  to  June  1st  at  3  P.M. 
Devotional  Meeting  every  Tuesday  at  8  P.M. 
All  women  are  cordially  invited. 

Chaplain's  Office. — Open  daily  except  Sundays,  from  9  A.M.  to  5  P.M.  and 

from  7  to  9.30  P.M. 

Association  Parlor. — Open  every  day  .and  evening.    On  Sunday,  from  2  to 
9  P.M. 

Hospitality  Committee  always  in  attendance  in  evening. 

Summer  School,  Vacation  Circles. — All  Women  and  Girls  cordially  invited. 
Admission  free. 


3i 


Free  Circulating  Library. — The  Library  for  the  use  of  women  and  girls  who 
are  self-supporting  or  preparing  for  self-support,  contains  31,516  volumes. 
Open  every  day  but  Sunday,  from  9  A.M.  to  9.15  P.M. 

Employment  Bureau.— Office  open  daily  from  9  A.M.  to  5  P.M.  Closed  Satur- 
day at  12,  from  June  to  October. 

Needle  Work  Department.— Salesrooms  open  daily  from  9  A.M.  to  5  P.M.  except 
Saturday  afternoon  during  the  summer. 
Fancy  articles  of  all  kinds  for  sale. 

These  articles  are  the  work  of  self-supporting  women  and  all  sales  in  the 
Department  are  for  the  benefit  of  the  consignors. 
A  commission  is  charged  on  all  sales. 

The  Order  Department,  takes  orders  for  ladies'  wrappers,  shirt  waists,  sacques 
and  underwear  and  misses',  children's  and  infants'  outfits. 

Beard  Directary. — Office  open  daily  from  9  A.M.  to  6  P.M.  and  from  7  to  9  P.M. 

Desirable  boarding  places  and  furnished  rooms  for  women  can  be  secured 
without  charge. 

The  Board  Directory  also  receives  all  applications  for  admission  to  The 
Seaside  Summer  Home  of  the  Association,  at  Asbury  Park,  N.  J. 

Class  Department. — Day  and  evening  classes  open  only  to  women  studying 
for  self-support. 

Application  for  admission  to  these  classes  must  be  made  in  person  to  the 
Clerk  of  the  Class  Department. 

Office  hours  of  Class  Department  9  A.M.  to  5  P.M.,  and  7  to  9  P.M., 
Saturday  afternoon  and  evening  excepted. 

The  Department  is  closed  from  June  15th  to  September  1st. 

Concerts  and  Entertainment. — These  are  given  on  the  last  Monday  evening 
of  each  month  from  November  to  May,  open  to  self-supporting  women 
only.    Admission  by  ticket. 

The  riargaret  Louisa  Home.— A  Temporary  Home  for  Protestant  Self-Support- 
ing Women,  14  and  16  East  16th  Street,  New  York. 

West  Side  Settlement  458  West  44th  Street.    Boarding  home  for  working 
women.   Prices  $3.00  to  $5.00  per  week. 
Devotional  Exercises  and  Song  Service  on  Sunday. 
Free  Circulating  Library. 

Afternoon  and  evening  classes  in  Millinery  and  Dressmaking  with  small 
charge  for  lessons  and  materials. 


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